Aperture forming device

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a device for forming apertures in cement or similar hardenable, plastic materials. The device, intended for use where holes of several inches in length are desired, comprises a body portion having affixed therein a threaded nut or coil. The body portion may be, for example, cylindrical in shape and be a solid elastomeric material having an aperture which extends axially through the body portion and communicates with a nut. The nut should be located adjacent the topmost portion of the body portion. A threaded rod may be inserted in the body aperture and screwed into the nut. A U-shaped bracket is provided which is placed on the hardened cement with the legs of the U-shape disposed on either side of body member. The joining member (which completes the U-shape) is spaced above and from the body portion by the legs. The joining member has a slot for receiving the bolt. The device is removed by threading a nut on the bolt down upon the joining member of the bracket. As the nut is turned, the rod is lifted. The lifting of the rod exerts pressure on the nut within the body member which then resiliently elongates the body portion and removes it from the cement.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 580,871 filedMay 27, 1975, now abandoned, which was in turn a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 423,151 filed Dec. 10, 1973, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the construction industry and moreparticularly to those substantially elastomeric devices intended to makeapertures of predetermined configuration in such plastic materials ascement or the like. In further particularity, such apertures are ofrelatively small dimensions as conduit openings through walls, floors,or shallow receptacles therein.

In the erection of buildings or other structures made of cement, or asimilar hardenable plastic material, it is frequently necessary toprovide holes in the floor slabs. These holes are intended toaccommodate or receive water or steam pipes, electrical conduits, andthe like. The passage of steam pipes from a basement-installed boilerupwardly to the various rooms is but one example of the need forpre-formed floor openings. The passage of electrical conduits or waterpipes, not only from floor to floor but between rooms, is but anotherexample of the need for pre-formed holes. In addition, because of thevarying sizes of such conduits, pipes, and the like, the shape of theholes need not necessarily by cylindrical. Thus, while cylindricalopenings may be preferable, such opening may also be elipsoid,semi-cylindrical, and so on.

In the past, a number of devices have been suggested for formingopenings in such hardenable plastic material as cement. Some deviceshave been intended to form conduits of substantial length, as in cementpipes or channels running the length of walls. Most frequently, devicesfor such conduits include the use of a thin-walled rubber tube havingwires or cables drawn therethrough so that when the plastic materialhardens, the wires may be pulled upon to deform the rubber tube awaytherefrom, thereby forming the conduits. Their construction, however, isexceedingly complicated and not readily applicable to such uses asforming of smaller apertures through cement walls and floors.

Amongst the aperture forming devices for forming pipes that have beensuggested is one proposed by Murray (U.S. Pat. No. 1,534,134). Murrayproposes the use of a highly resilient solid rubber member to be placedin a mold box. This particular means of forming a pipe in a hardenableplastic material, such as cement, is most difficult to be used sincethere is no ready means of removal of the rubber when the cement hashardened. As disclosed by Murray, however, the solid rubber member isdisposed adjacent a mold box cover. It is believed that as such, therubber unit may be easily plied out of the box, leaving a channeltherein. If one were to attempt to draw the rubber solid along itslength then the forces at the very edge of the resilient solid, it willcause the rubber solid to break apart and remain within the cementitself.

A number of expedients are believed to have been resorted to in thecreation of floor and wall slab holes of smaller dimension. One commonpractice is to nail an inverted previously opened beer or soft drink candirectly to the floor or wall foundation prior to pouring the concrete.After the concrete has been poured, the circular wall at the top of thecan may be punctured and an effort can be made to pull the can from itssurrounding cement by means of a hook. However, due to the strong bondwhich frequently obtains between the metal can and the surroundingconcrete, it becomes difficult to extract the can. Simetimes the can ismerely left within the wall. However, can sizes are of limiteddimensions and not readily available for the numbers of holes required.Further, the existence of ragged metal edges at an opening is notdesirable. Cutting tools required to cleanly cut open such cans for moreestablished use on a construction site would be an added inconvenienceand cost, as well as the cost of material. It should be borne in mindthat for everyone of the many, many holes in such construction, canswould be required which could not be reused.

Another approach to making apertures in a plastic type material is thatsuggested by Bowden et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,469,817). Bowden et al.suggests a hole pattern member formed of an elastomeric material. Themember comprises a cylindrical casing with spokes or veins terminatingsubstantially at the center thereof, the hub or center of the member istwisted, the veins thereby draw in the outer cylindrical surface so asto expedite removal from the concrete. The difficulty with this deviceis that in frequent usage, the veins must be constantly flexed, therebyresulting in what is believed a limited life span. What is more, cementmay eventually find its way between the veins, thereby restricting theability of the user to collapse the member so that it may be removedfrom the cement structure.

The longer the length, more than five inches, the veins will, it isbelieved, fail to fully collapse. In addition, cement walls may, byvirtue of the weight of the cement, cause the device to prematurelyflex, thereby rendering the aperture useless. What is more, the forcesnecessary to deform the casing are applied directly and radially throughthe spokes, thereby requiring a direct deal of force. The frequentflexing and the considerable internal deformation makes this device, itis believed, to be inconvenient and of a limited reuse life.

In the making of apertures in plastic materials, Chetirko (U.S. Pat. No.3,172,163) has suggested one approach, but one not suitable tohardenable plastic materials. In this instance, Chetirko recommends theuse of a rigid core for reducing the hole size in bowling balls. Thecore is threaded and a bolt is pushed down through it so that after thematerial is hardened, the bolt may be pushed down and cut the base,thereby removing the core from the bowling ball. However, if this weredone with an elastomeric material, the result would be that it woulddeform under the pressure and the bolt would be removed, leaving theelastomeric material securely within the cement structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a device for formingapertures in plastic material, said device being reuseable.

It is another object of this invention to provide an aperture formingdevice which may be placed in a plastic material while the material isin a fluid state and removed when the plastic material has become rigid.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for formingapertures of different designs usng the same inventive concept for eachaperture forming device of each design.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an apertureforming device which is economical in manufacture and simple in use.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an apertureforming device capable of being inserted into such a plastic material ascement and being removable therefrom when the cement has hardened, saiddevice being removable by a simple tool and being capable of serving asa temporary sealer or cover for formed aperture until it is desired tobe removed.

In accomplishing the foregoing object, and other objects which maybecome more apparent herein, there is provided an aperture forming meansof the type intended to be disposed in a hardenable plastic material.The aperture forming means is disposed while the material is in asubstantially fluid state. Upon the material becoming substantiallyrigid, the aperture forming means is removable from the material, so asto form the aperture within the material. The aperture forming meanscomprises an elastomeric body portion, a substantially rigid membermeans within the body portion, and means for grasping the rigid member.The grasping means extends from within and without of the body portionso that it can engage the rigid member means to thereby remove the bodyportion and the rigid member means from the plastic material therebyforming the aperture.

In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a substantiallycylindrical elastomeric body portion having embedded therein a bolt withthe threaded portion extending axially and without the body portion. Thebody portion is inserted into plastic material such as concrete. Theconcrete is floated in place and upon hardening, a bracket is fittedover the threaded portion of the rod. The threaded rod extends throughthe bracket and is engaged by a nut. As the nut is threaded down uponthe rod, the rod pulls upwardly against the body portion removing itfrom the cement leaving the appropriate aperture.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the body portion has anaxially disposed aperture extending within and through the body portion.A nut is encased within the body portion and about the aperture. Athreaded rod is placed down through the threaded nut. After the plasticmaterial has hardened, the rod is turned down into contact with thehardened material and the nut, which is engaged by the threaded rod,begins to thread its way up and thereby pull out the body portion fromthe hardened plastic material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned front plan view of an aperture formingdevice constructed in accordance with the teachings of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bracket used in connection with thedevice of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of another aperture-forming deviceconstructed in accordance with the teachings of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a bracket which may be used in connectionwith the device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of an aperture forming deviceconstructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a locating device constructed inaccordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an aperture-forming device constructed inaccordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of another device constructed in accordancewith the teachings of this invention; and

FIG. 9 is a partially sectioned front view of still anotheraperture-forming device constructed in accordance with the teachings ofthis invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The device of this invention is particularly suited for formingapertures of several inches in length, such as those intended to passwater or electric lines from wall to wall or between floors. Thisinvention is characterized by an aperture forming body portionconstructed of a unitary, substantially solid elastomeric material.Generally, the body portion is disposed within a hardenable plasticmaterial, such as concrete, or for forming openings for temporaryrailings or guard rails cement or the like, while the material is in afluid state. After the plastic material has hardened, the elastomericbody is only slightly deformed by subjecting it to forces and is therebyremoved. Thus, it is believed that channels of considerable length,(e.g., exceeding more than several feet) would not be feasible with thedevice of this invention. Thus, for example, a body 20 may be preferablysix or seven inches in length and have an overall width or diameter ofapproximately three to five inches. In other words, the length may bedictated by the overall thickness of the wall or floor through which orinto which such an aperture is to be formed. The body portion may bemade of any convenient elastomeric material such as rubber or neoprenehaving for example a durometer of 55 to 75, for example. A threaded bolt22 may be placed or cast within the body portion 20 substantially nearthe top end 24 of the body portion 20. The bolt 22 may be so locatedthat the head 26 is placed in a radial plane while the shaft 28 extendsaxially and without the body portion 20. A substantial portion of theshaft 28 extending out of the body portion 20 may be threaded 30. Thebody portion 20 generally may also have a slight taper of, for example,one degree. The bolt 22 may be of any well known configuration andmaterial.

In use, the body portion 20 may be placed in a floor which is to beformed of a plastic material such as, for example, cement (not shown).The body portion 20 may be placed in the area desired. Cement then isfloated into place until it is level with the top portion 24 of the bodyportion 20 and allowed to harden. A bracket 64 (FIG. 4) may be made ofwood or the like, and may be used to locate the body portion 20 and holdit in position while the cement hardens.

A bracket 32 (FIG. 2) may be used to remove the body portion 20. Thus,the bracket 32 may be substantially U-shaped, comprising a horizontal,joining wall 34 and opposed legs 36 and 38 and laterally extendingflanges 40 and 42 extending outwardly from the free ends of the legs 36and 38 of the U-shaped bracket 32. The joining member 34 of the U-shapedbracket 32 may have one or more slots 44 therein.

In operation, the body portion 20 is placed within the form (not shown).The threaded portion 30 may be slipped through a slot 68 of the bracket64 of FIG. 4 and held in place by a nut (not shown). The bracket 64 maybe secured to the form as by nails (not shown) through nail holes 66.After the cement has hardened, the bracket 64 is removed and the bracket32 is put in its place. The nut is then tightened down upon the threadedportion 30. As the nut is tightened down against the joining member wall34, the bolt 22 is pulled upwardly. The head 26 prevents the threadedbolt 22 from being pulled out of the body portion 20 and the entireassembly 22 and 20 is then pulled out of the cement, leaving theaperture. It will be understood that the bracket 32 may be made of anyrigid material such as steel and may take any other convenient shape.

Turning to another embodiment, there is provided an aperture formingdevice 50 (FIG. 3). Once again, the body portion 52 may be made of anyelastomeric material such as rubber or the like. As shown, the bodyportion 52 is cylindrical. However, any other convenient and desiredshape may be used. Once again, the previously mentioned limitations onwidth and length are preferably to avoid the breaking of the bodyportion on removal from the hardened plastic material.

As shown herein, the body portion 52 is substantially cylindrical andsolid in form. It should be noted that as with the previous body portion20 of the device disclosed in FIG. 1, there may be provided a slighttaper in order to aid in its removal from the hardened plastic material.

Axially disposed through the cylindrical body portion 52 may be anaperture 54. This body portion aperture 54 has a diameter substantiallysmaller than the overall diameter of the body portion 52. Formed withinand secured threwithin the body portion aperture 54 may be a nut means,such as, for example, a coil 56. As used herein a nut refers to a nut,coil, coil nut, or the like. It is preferable that such a nut be locatedclose to the top portion 58 of the body portion 52. As shown, such a nut56 may be spaced approximately one-third of the overall length from thetop.

When the body portion 52 is placed within the hardenable plasticmaterial, a threaded rod 62 is threaded down through the nut 56 and intothe body portion 52. The rod 62 is placed at the base of the bodyportion 52 thereby preventing the plastic material from rushing into theaperture 54. The body portion 52 may be placed within the appropriateform prior to the floating in of the material. The bracket (FIG. 4) maybe used to locate and hold the body portion 52 in place. The rectangularbracket may have along one edge thereof nail holes 66. Along the other,longer edge thereof and extending into the bracket 64 may be slots 68.The bracket 64 may be made of any well known rigid material such assteel or wood. The bracket 64 may be secured to the form board (notshown) as with nails 70 inserted through the nail holes 66. The slot 68may fit about the threaded rod 62. A free running nut 70 may be on thethreaded rod 62 between its head 72 and the bracket 64.

In use after the cement has hardened, the nut 70 may be threaded awayfrom the bracket 64 and the head 72 threaded downwardly and out of thebody portion 52. As the rod 62 is tightened down (the bracket 64 havingfirst been removed), the elastomeric material 52, such as rubber, isresiliently stretched and pulled out of the hole by the force of the nut56 within the body portion 52. It is essential that the nut of thesedevices herein be disposed adjacent the top and preferably within athird of the axial length. The force of the rod 62 against the cement orthe form at the base 60 of the device 50 is transmitted to the coil 56,so as to cause the material 52 to elongate and thereby be jacked out ofthe cement.

(Primed numbers herein indicate similarly shaped elements herein whichserve similar purposes.)

One application of the aperture forming device 50 may be for theformation of holes through walls or floors. Thus, for example, in a wallthere may be disposed between opposed forms 74 and 76 (FIG. 5) a bodyportion 52' which may be, for example, cylindrical in shape and havingtherein a threaded nut 56'. The forms 74 and 76 may have apertures (notshown) which are in registry with one another. The body portion 52' ofthe elastomeric material is disposed between the forms 74 and 76. Athreaded rod 62' may have thereon a washer 98 which may be made, forexample, of steel. The threaded rod 62' may be inserted through theaperture in the form 76, the body portion 52', and aperture in theopposed form 74 and without. A second steel washer 80 may be disposedover the end of the threaded rod 62' and a free running nut 82 may besecured thereon. After the cement 84 or similar plastic material hasbeen floated or poured into place and permitted to harden, the forms 74and 76 may be removed by first removing the nut 82, bolt 62', andwashers 98 and 80. Thus, it will be seen that the bolts 62' serve tohold the forms 74 and 76 in place. The body portion 52' may be permittedto remain in place to seal the aperture until such time as it is needed,thereby keeping out foreign objects from clogging the aperture untilused. It is preferable that the body portion 52' be first loosenedwithin the aperture it forms so that the cement 84 does not become boundto the body portion 52' by extended contact.

It should be noted that the forms 74 and 76 may be made of any wellknown material as commonly known in the art such as metal, steel,fiberglass, wood or the like. To remove the body portion 52' to form theaperture all that is required is that a bracket 32 or the like beaffixed to the wall 84 and the entire unit be jacked out, as haspreviously been described. Thus, the forms 74 and 76 having beenremoved, the rod 62' may be rethreaded so as to extend a part way out ofthe body portion 52'. The bracket 32 (FIG. 2) may be placed over the rod62' so as to engage the slot 44. Then the head 72 is rotated down andthe threads 86 of the rod 62' engage the threaded nut 56' to therebyresiliently elongate the body portion 52' and removes it from the wall84.

Still another consideration is the instance when a floor is to be castin cement or other plastic material and it is desired to locate a bodyportion. Clearly, the type having a threaded nut secured on both sidesof a form (such as in FIG. 5) may not be practical or convenient. Inaddition, it may be desired to form a shallow aperture or cup. In thisconnection, a device, such as that disclosed in FIG. 1 may be employed.In order to locate such devices, within a form, there may be provided alocating means 90 which may be substantially in the shape of a top hat.The crown 92 may be in the form of a cylindrical tube open at both ends.The base of the tube 92 may be secured to a laterally extending brim 94.The brim 94 may be secured to a form 96 as by staples 98 or the like, orother securing means. The crown 92 should extend up a fraction of theoverall length of the desired body portion (not shown). Thus, forexample, the crown 92 is attached to the form 96 for a floor (which maybe, for example, 16 inches in thickness). The crown 92 may have anoverall length of four inches so as to support the body portiontherewithin and hold it in place while the cement or similar plasticmaterial is floated into place. It is believed that the lower the crown92, the greater likelihood that a body portion would be floated out ofplace. The brim 94 may be removed when the lower form 96 is removed.Unlike cans, the brim 94 is exterior of the crown and easily detachabletherefrom, as by lines of weakening. The device 90 may be made, forexample, of a plastic.

In another embodiment of this invention, the body portion 102 may bethin and elongated as, for example, a preferred length of no more thantwo feet and a diameter of up to one and one-half inches. Thus, the bodyportion 102 of an elastomeric material, such as rubber (FIG. 7) may havemolded or otherwise formed therewithin and axially disposed along itslength, a rod 104. The rod 104 may have burrs 106 as an integral partthereof so as to grip the body portion 102 and extending without. Theexposed end of the rod 104 may be threaded, 108. Once placed within ahardenable plastic material, such as cement, it could be jacked out bythe bracket 32 (FIG. 2), thereby forming rebar voids or apertures.Greater lengths than substantially more than two feet are believed to beimpractical, causing the rubber or other elastomeric material toseparate.

Still another embodiment is an elastomeric body portion 110 which may,for example, be cylindrical in shape and have the slight draft, aspreviously discussed. Extending radially through the body portion 110and cast therewithin may be a rigid tube 112 which may, for example, bemade of metal or the like. The tube 112 is located adjacent the top end115 of the body portion 110. A cable or other handle forming device 114may extend through the tube 112. This device, upon being placed in theplastic material 116, is then pulled out by means of a handle portion114. The handle 114 may be, for example, a wire-like cable or the like.

Still another embodiment is a cylindrical body portion 120 (FIG. 9) inwhich a bolt 122 is cast therewithin being axially disposed with theshaft 124 of the bolt extending axially. The top end 126 of the bodyportion 120 may be countersunk and have therewithin a ring-like member128 secured to a nut 130. This particular device may be thus removed byengaging the ring 128 as by means of a crowbar (not shown) or the like.As is well known, a crowbar may be brought down against a brace or edgeof a form (not shown) to lift the body portion 120 out of the hardenedmaterial, thereby leaving the aperture.

Thus, there has been disclosed a substantially solid, elastomeric devicehaving therewithin a rigid member. The rigid member is engaged by anelongated rod. The force of the rod upon the rigid member deforms thedevice along its length. Such deformation removes the contact with thehardened plastic material which aids in its removal therefrom. Becauseof this general principle, not believed to have been heretofore employedin this context, apertures of any desired shape may be had.

What is claimed is: .[.1. Aperture forming means of the type intended tobe disposed within a hardenable plastic material while said material isin a substantially fluid state and, upon said material becomingsubstantially rigid, said forming means being removable from saidmaterial to thereby form therewithin said aperture, said apertureforming means comprising: therein said body portion within the plasticmaterial..].
 2. Aperture forming means as recited in claim .[.1.]..Iadd.4.Iaddend., wherein said locating means further comprises flangemeans for securing to the form and having upstanding support meansextending therefrom to retain therein said body portion in apredetermined position.
 3. Aperture forming means as recited in claim 2,wherein said body portion is substantially cylindrical, said locatingmeans comprises a top-hat configuration such that said flange means is aradially extending brim, said upstanding support means is asubstantially cylindrically-shaped crown open at the top to receivetherein said cylindrical body portion; said crown extending a fractionof the axial length of said body portion. .Iadd.
 4. Aperture formingmeans of the type intended to be disposed within a hardenable plasticmaterial while said material is in a substantially fluid state and, uponsaid material becoming substantially rigid, said material being of thetype disposed upon or in a form, said forming means being removable fromsaid material to thereby form therewithin said aperture, said apertureforming means comprising:(a) an elastomeric body portion having top andbottom portions, the top portion being intended to be disposed adjacentto and accessible through the exposed surface of the plastic materialwherein said body portion is a substantially geometric solid, in whichthe end defining said top portion is at least as large as or larger thansaid bottom portion; (b) a substantially rigid member secured within andengaging said body portion and spaced from said top portion; (c) meansfor grasping said rigid member; said grasping means extending fromwithin and without said body portion for engaging said rigid member andfor deforming said body portion so as to remove said body portion andsaid rigid member from the hardened plastic material; and (d) locatingmeans to thereby located said body portion within said plastic material;said locating means receiving therein said body portion and beingsecurable to the form. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
 5. Aperture forming means of thetype intended to be disposed within a hardenable plastic material whilesaid material is in a substantially fluid state and, upon said materialbecoming substantially rigid, said material being of the type disposedupon or in a form; said forming means being removable from said materialto thereby form therewithin said aperture, said aperture forming meanscomprising: (a) an elastomeric body portion having top and bottomportions, the top portion being intended to be disposed adjacent to andaccessible through the exposed surface of the plastic material withinsaid body portion is a substantially geometric solid, in which the enddefining said top portion is at least as large as or larger than saidbottom portion; (b) a substantially rigid member secured within andengaging said body portion and spaced from said top portion; (c) meansfor grasping said rigid member, said grasping means extending fromwithin and without said body portion for engaging said rigid member andfor deforming said body portion so as to remove said body portion andsaid rigid member from the hardened plastic material; and (d) locatingmeans to thereby locate said body portion within the plastic material;said locating means being securable to the form and engaging saidgrasping means; said locating means comprises a bracket having slotstherein for selectively engaging said grasping means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.6. Aperture forming means of the type intended to be disposed within ahardenable plastic material while said material is in a substantiallyfluid state and, upon said material becoming substantially rigid, saidmaterial being of the type disposed upon or in a form, said formingmeans being removable from said material to thereby form therewithinsaid aperture, said aperture forming means comprising: (a) anelastomeric body portion having top and bottom portions and an aperture,the top portion being intended to be disposed adjacent to and accessiblethrough the exposed surface of the plastic material wherein said bodyportion is a substantially geometric solid, in which the end definingsaid top portion is at least as large as or larger than said bottomportion; (b) a substantially rigid member secured within and engagingsaid body portion and space from said top portion; said rigid membercomprises an internally threaded nut; (c) locating means to therebylocate said body portion within the plastic material; said locatingmeans comprises a bracket; and (d) means for grasping said rigid member,said grasping means extending from within and without said body portionfor engaging said rigid member and for deforming said body portion so asto remove said body portion and said rigid member from the hardenedplastic material; said means for grasping comprises a threaded memberinsertable within said aperture for engaging said nut and exterior nutmeans threaded upon said threaded member and against said bracket; saidbracket being upon the exterior portion of the rigid plastic materialsuch that, upon tightening down upon said bracket by said exterior nutmeans, said threaded member pulls upon said secured nut to therebyremove said body portion from said hardened plastic material. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 7. Aperture forming means as recited in claim 6, wherein saidbracket is a substantially U-shaped planar member; the base, which joinsthe arms of said U-shaped member, having at least one openingtherewithin to engage the threaded member; said bracket arms withlaterally extending free ends for resting securely upon rigid plasticmaterial. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
 8. Aperture forming means as recited in claim7, wherein said body portion comprises a substantially cylindricalmember, said body portion aperture being axially disposed, said nutbeing embedded within said body portion and having the aperture thereofin registry with said body portion aperture, said threaded membercomprising a threaded bolt of the type having a bolt head at one end,said body portion being tapered along the length thereof, such that thelargest diameter thereof is disposed at said top portion. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 9. Aperture forming means of the type intended to be disposedwithin a hardenable plastic material while said material is in asubstantially fluid state and, upon said material becoming substantiallyrigid, said material being of the type disposed upon or in a form, saidforming means being removable from said material to thereby formtherewithin said aperture, said aperture forming means comprising: (a)an elastomeric body portion having top and bottom portions and anaperture, the top portion being intended to be disposed adjacent to andaccessible through the exposed surface of the plastic material whereinsaid body portion is a substantially geometric solid, in which the enddefining said top portion is at least as large as or larger than saidbottom portion; (b) a substantially rigid member secured within andengaging said body portion and spaced from said top portion; said rigidmember comprises an internally threaded nut; (c) means for grasping saidrigid member, said grasping means extending from within and without saidbody portion for engaging said rigid member and for deforming said bodyportion so as to remove said body portion and said rigid member from thehardened plastic material, said grasping means comprises a threadedmember insertable within said aperture for engaging said nut; and (d)locating means to thereby locate said body portion within the plasticmaterial, said locating means comprises a bracket having slots thereinfor selectively engaging said grasping means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 10.Aperture forming means of the type intended to be disposed within ahardenable plastic material while said material is in a substantiallyfluid state and, upon said material becoming substantially rigid, saidmaterial being of the type disposed upon or in a form, said formingmeans being removable from said material to thereby form therewithinsaid aperture, said aperture forming means comprising: (a) anelastomeric body portion having top and bottom portions, the topportions being intended to be disposed adjacent to and accessiblethrough the exposed surface of the plastic material wherein said bodyportion is a substantially geometric solid, in which the end definingsaid top portion is at least as large as or larger than said bottomportion; (b) a substantially rigid member secured within and engagingsaid body portion and spaced from said top portion; (c) means forgrasping said rigid member, said grasping means extending from withinand without said body portion for engaging said rigid member and fordeforming said body portion so as to remove said body portion and saidrigid member from the hardened plastic material; said grasping meanscomprises a substantially rod-like member extending from within andwithout said body portion, said rigid member comprises a head memberintegrally formed at one end of said rod-like member and extendingradially from said rod-like member; and (d) locating means to therebylocate said body portion within the plastic material, and a bracket andnut means wherein said rod-like member comprises a threaded portion,said bracket engages said threaded portion, said nut means being uponsaid rod-like member for tightening down upon said threaded portion andagainst said bracket; said bracket being intended to engage the hardenedplastic material in such a manner that said nut means upon being rotatedupon said threaded portion pulls against said head member and bodyportion so as to thereby deform said elastomer and remove said apertureforming means from the plastic material.